Lauderdale County Man Pleads Guilty to Felon Firearm Possession

Marvin Naylor, 46, of Daleville, Mississippi, stood before U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate on January 9, 2017, and admitted to a crime that carries a federal punch: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The guilty plea, delivered in Jackson, Miss., marks the latest fall from grace for a man already tethered to the criminal justice system.

On November 10, 2015, federal and state agents descended on Naylor’s Daleville residence with an arrest and search warrant. The operation, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, alongside the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, yielded three firearms—two of which were confirmed stolen—and multiple rounds of live ammunition. Naylor made no attempt to deny ownership during questioning.

As a previously convicted felon, Naylor is strictly prohibited from possessing any firearm under federal law. Yet, authorities say he not only kept the weapons, but did so while harboring stolen property. The discovery of two stolen guns adds a dangerous layer to the case, raising questions about how and from where they were obtained.

U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis confirmed the plea, underscoring the joint effort that brought Naylor to justice. “When felons arm themselves, especially with stolen weapons, public safety is under direct threat,” Davis said. “This prosecution sends a clear message: illegal gun possession will be met with federal consequences.”

Naylor now awaits sentencing, scheduled for March 20, 2017. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. No plea deal details have been released, but the charges leave little room for leniency under federal sentencing guidelines.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr. is handling the prosecution. With stolen guns in play and a violent felony history, Naylor’s case fits the profile of the kind of illegal firearms possession that federal authorities are cracking down on across Mississippi.

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